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OH, USA
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Posted: 12/11/2023 1:55:03 PM EDT
[Last Edit: Millennial]
  So my registered lightning link broke yesterday, I died a little (a lot) inside, and here we are. I’m surprised it happened; my protector is shimmed so it sits a tad proud of the RLL ears and should make contact with the paddle first first. Both my .040 and .032 paddles do show wear indicating the protector is making contact down there, too. And I’ve never broken a paddle. If/when they start to take a bend, I just flip ‘em. Binding is not an issue; I only use my RLL in my 80% lowers that I specifically machined to have extra clearance at the rear and FCG pocket shoulders. I use the modified M16 burst LPK method for select fire. Who out out there fixes broken lightning links nowadays? Does it even matter? I’ll bet it keeps functioning just fine with the KNS protector.  
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Posted: 12/11/2023 2:13:53 PM EDT
[Last Edit: Jozsi]
[#1]
M60 Joe repaired a friends link years ago and he added some kind of truss on the plate to strengthen it.
It was like a small part added to strengthen the paddle area. https://knsprecisioninc.com/lightning-link-re-enforcer/ |
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Posted: 12/11/2023 2:17:35 PM EDT
[#2]
At least it's not part of the serial number.
Hopefully you can find someone to re-weld it. |
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OH, USA
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Posted: 12/11/2023 2:18:30 PM EDT
[Last Edit: Millennial]
[#3]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Jozsi: M60 Joe repaired a friends link years ago and he added some kind of truss on the plate to strengthen it. It was like a small part added to strengthen the paddle area. I thought M60 Joe went OOB several years ago? I've had JMF Micro Welding do some repairs on 1911, but I don't know if he's an SOT or just an 07. That guy literally welds under a microscope. |
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OH, USA
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Posted: 12/11/2023 2:20:06 PM EDT
[Last Edit: Millennial]
[#4]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By jaqufrost: At least it's not part of the serial number. Hopefully you can find someone to re-weld it. If it was the serial number there'd be nothing left. My SN is electro-penciled so faintly, you have to hold it at an angle in the light just to see it. I've always wondered if I could have the SN engraving made deeper. |
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OH, USA
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Posted: 12/11/2023 2:47:31 PM EDT
[#5]
Sorry to hear that. It happens. M60joe went out of business a few years ago. Gary's bunker took over a lot of his MG repairs. I would also check with JECIII just north of Columbus, he is a lightning link expert/specialist. Third person would be Taylor Pickerell (aka EMgunslinger on most forums), he can fix most any MG or conversion.
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OH, USA
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Posted: 12/11/2023 2:50:15 PM EDT
[#6]
Link to John's (JEC) ad on Sturm. He specifically states that he repairs broken LL
https://www.sturmgewehr.com/forums/index.php?/topic/15600-lightning-link-and-dias-services-hosts-repair-ar1510-paddles-w-links-to-host-videos/#comment-103788 RLL and DIAS services |
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OH, USA
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Posted: 12/11/2023 5:14:44 PM EDT
[#7]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By SGT-Fish: Link to John's (JEC) ad on Sturm. He specifically states that he repairs broken LL https://www.sturmgewehr.com/forums/index.php?/topic/15600-lightning-link-and-dias-services-hosts-repair-ar1510-paddles-w-links-to-host-videos/#comment-103788 RLL and DIAS services Nice, sent him a text. |
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OR, USA
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Posted: 12/11/2023 5:32:04 PM EDT
[#8]
Doesn't look terrible to weld back up. Fixture it up and weld it back up!
Hope everything goes smooth for you to repair it! |
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OH, USA
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Posted: 12/11/2023 5:44:52 PM EDT
[#9]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Deerhurst: Doesn't look terrible to weld back up. Fixture it up and weld it back up! Hope everything goes smooth for you to repair it! I've got a TIG in the garage... just give me a minute to fire up my youtube livestream. |
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Posted: 12/11/2023 6:07:15 PM EDT
[#10]
At one of the Wikiup shoots many years ago, maybe about 12 years ago, I once watched a girl who was having trouble with her LL.
Turns out her ears were bent on her link. She proceeded to hammer it back straight and went back to her business. 
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SC, USA
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Posted: 12/11/2023 9:07:31 PM EDT
[#11]
John fixed mine. Good dude
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OH, USA
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Posted: 12/11/2023 9:27:36 PM EDT
[#12]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By STEPPONE: John fixed mine. Good dude ... Thomas? |
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OR, USA
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Posted: 12/11/2023 11:59:40 PM EDT
[#13]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Millennial: I've got a TIG in the garage... just give me a minute to fire up my youtube livestream. Hell, I've done sketchier welds with a flux core MiG! I wouldn't hesitate to MiG it up. Tig would be easy! |
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OH, USA
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Posted: 12/12/2023 12:17:04 AM EDT
[#14]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Deerhurst: Hell, I've done sketchier welds with a flux core MiG! I wouldn't hesitate to MiG it up. Tig would be easy! If it was a post sample, I'd Flux core mig it and go-to town with a hand file. For a transferable link, I'll trust John |
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OR, USA
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Posted: 12/12/2023 5:38:04 PM EDT
[Last Edit: Deerhurst]
[#15]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By SGT-Fish: If it was a post sample, I'd Flux core mig it and go-to town with a hand file. For a transferable link, I'll trust John You have no idea who I am or what I work on. Ignorance is bliss. You need better tools if you are doing that with a file. |
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SC, USA
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Posted: 12/12/2023 10:56:54 PM EDT
[#16]
JEC
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OH, USA
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Posted: 12/13/2023 12:17:32 AM EDT
[Last Edit: SGT-Fish]
[#17]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Deerhurst: You have no idea who I am or what I work on. Ignorance is bliss. You need better tools if you are doing that with a file. Calm down bud. I was making a joke and I didn't say anything about you |
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ID, USA
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Posted: 12/19/2023 9:37:33 PM EDT
[Last Edit: The_Lynch_Family]
[#18]
John JECIII like some are saying. He is the man when it comes to lightening links. He set up like 6 hosts for me and more to come. All run perfect. Its like he sprinkled magic dust on my 12 inch MCR beltfed. It doesn't matter what you load links with. It refuses to jam. Loves 55grn wolf-62grn green tip.
Here are some vids of me "testing" out the hosts he did for me to give you confidence in using him. on youtube lookup https://www.youtube.com/@living_in_free_america |
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TX, USA
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Posted: 1/6/2024 11:00:25 PM EDT
[Last Edit: Six2Life]
[#19]
Originally Posted By Millennial: So my registered lightning link broke yesterday, I died a little (a lot) inside, and here we are. I’m surprised it happened; my protector is shimmed so it sits a tad proud of the RLL ears and should make contact with the paddle first first. Both my .040 and .032 paddles do show wear indicating the protector is making contact down there, too. And I’ve never broken a paddle. If/when they start to take a bend, I just flip ‘em. Binding is not an issue; I only use my RLL in my 80% lowers that I specifically machined to have extra clearance at the rear and FCG pocket shoulders. I use the modified M16 burst LPK method for select fire. Who out out there fixes broken lightning links nowadays? Does it even matter? I’ll bet it keeps functioning just fine with the KNS protector. https://i.imgur.com/6RfNBXA.jpg https://i.imgur.com/ROd8UI4.jpg Would you mind sharing what use it's seen before breaking? Mainly shoot 5.56, or does it get a variety of calibers? I'm also curious what your FCG pocket looks like... |
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FL, USA
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Posted: 1/7/2024 7:43:27 AM EDT
[#20]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Six2Life: Would you mind sharing what use it's seen before breaking? Mainly shoot 5.56, or does it get a variety of calibers? I'm also curious what your FCG pocket looks like... Anyway it was at a SMG match and he was running a straight blowback 9mm upper and the gun stopped shooting when it broke. I can't recall if the paddle broke at the same time or what. He sent it to M60Joe for repair and then sold it. He only shot 556 and 9mm. Straight blowback 9mm is notorious for being hard on lower components which is why Geissele and others will void their warranty if you use them with their triggers. |
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TX, USA
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Posted: 1/10/2024 4:45:12 PM EDT
[#21]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By amphibian: One of my buddies broke his RLL in the same manner and he was also using the KNS protector like 15 or so years ago. I recall the KNS protector was on the market for only a few years back then. Anyway it was at a SMG match and he was running a straight blowback 9mm upper and the gun stopped shooting when it broke. I can't recall if the paddle broke at the same time or what. He sent it to M60Joe for repair and then sold it. He only shot 556 and 9mm. Straight blowback 9mm is notorious for being hard on lower components which is why Geissele and others will void their warranty if you use them with their triggers. It is interesting you mention the early KNS protector, since I was wondering if the OP's is an early version. The photo of the back side of it does not look like any of the KNS protectors I've seen, or seen photos of. They typically have a much more square profile at the rear which I assume is one of the protective features. Maybe the OP's is modified? |
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Posted: 1/10/2024 5:56:03 PM EDT
[#22]
From that last pic it looks like the other side is cracked in the same location as well.
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Posted: 1/16/2024 4:45:57 PM EDT
[#23]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Deerhurst: You have no idea who I am or what I work on. Ignorance is bliss. You need better tools if you are doing that with a file. Classic C3 attitude. |
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OH, USA
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Posted: 1/16/2024 5:18:54 PM EDT
[#24]
Use a rll reinforcer "not supost to use on broken link"
 I would never run mine without one. |
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